Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of an exercise program using elastic tubing as a perturbation force on balance and functional performance in athletes with chronic ankle instability. Equipment and methods: Thirty young university-level competitive athletes with chronic ankle instability participated in this pre-post experimental study. The star excursion balance test and single leg hop test were used to measure balance and functional ankle performance. Participants were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group performed elastic tubing exercises four times a week for 4 consecutive weeks. Results: A paired t-test analysis of the experimental group showed a significant difference (P<0.05) between the pre- and post-treatment measurements of the three components of the star excursion balance test (anteromedial, medial, posteromedial) as well as the single leg hop test, while the same test of the control group showed an insignificant difference (P>0.05). The changes in the experimental group were significantly greater (P<0.05) with a large effect size for the three components of the star excursion balance test and the single leg hop test, suggesting a large practical difference. Conclusion: The elastic tubing exercise program resulted in a significant positive difference in the balance and functional performance of athletes with chronic ankle instability.
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